Nathanael Gouin - Caprices - Import CD Digipak

Credits:

Nathanael Gouin

Description:

Guang captivatingly brings to life the composers’ emotions and creativity embedded in their caprices The term “Caprice” (or “Capriccio,” meaning “whim”) refers to a piece of music with a free form. Perhaps because of this, composers throughout history have left behind many captivating works. Nathaniel Guan has produced a concept album featuring “Caprices” written for the piano, as well as works derived from them. Nathanael Guan is a pianist born in 1988. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and Juilliard under Pires, Penutier, and Bashkirov. He has performed at festivals such as La Folle Journée and gave a concert in Japan this past March (2023). A virtuoso, his recordings of works by Liszt and Bizet, among others, have received high praise. Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” makes up about one-third of the album, featuring a collaboration with Sinfonia Varsovia conducted by Aleksandar Marković. Although the title is “Rhapsody,” it makes perfect sense given that it uses Paganini’s “Caprice No. 24” as its theme. With effortless technique and a resonant piano sound, he allows the listener to fully savor the beautiful melodies. The excellent recording quality is also noteworthy. The remainder of the album consists of solo piano works, featuring pieces from both Japan and France. It is fascinating to trace the evolution of the caprice over nearly 250 years—from J.S. Bach’s early 1700s piece “On the Departure of My Beloved Brother” to Maurice Ohana’s “Shut Up and Bury It” from around 1944. Here, too, the album features Brahms’s famous set of variations, which uses Paganini’s “Caprice No. 24” as its theme. She also takes on the finale, “Aesop’s Feast,” from Alkan’s incredibly difficult “12 Études in Minor Keys,” showcasing jaw-dropping fingerwork and leaps across the keyboard. Of particular note is Reynaldo Hahn’s unpublished work, “Minuminec.” According to Guen, he first learned of it when commissioned to edit a manuscript held by the Royaumont Abbey (part of the collection of pianist François Lang, who was murdered at Auschwitz in 1944). This is not the world premiere recording of the piece; during the LP era, Jean Doyan recorded it as the third piece in his set of “Three Etudes.” It is a passionate piece with a distinctly Spanish flavor and can be considered one of the most captivating works in Arne’s piano repertoire. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Introduction. Allegro vivace - Variation No. 1 (Precedente)
2.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Tema. L'istesso tempo
3.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 2 L'istesso tempo
4.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 3 L'istesso tempo
5.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 4 Piu vivo
6.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 5 Tempo precedente
7.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 6 L'istesso tempo
8.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 7 Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
9.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 8 Tempo I
10.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 9 L'istesso tempo
11.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 10 L'istesso tempo
12.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 11 Moderato
13.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 12 Tempo di minuetto
14.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 13 Allegro
15.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 14 L'istesso tempo
16.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 15 Piu vivo scherzando
17.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 16 Allegretto
18.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 17 Allegretto
19.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 18 Andante cantabile
20.Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini, Opus 43~Variation No. 19 A tempo vivace